The Portland daily press., 1887-07-06
the FOURTH.

ton, voluntary and compulsory, the freedom
and purity Of religious thought and the virtue
and strength OF our political institutions must
answer.
America is becoming rapidly de- Anglicized.
But man will be no less an American be-
cause he is less an Englishman. Saxon or
Celt, no accident of birth will control his
thought. fetter his conscience or make his
heart insensible to the love of freedom and the
desire for prosperity and happiness. This is the
teaching OF the past and the hope of the future.
Eight of the men who signed the Declaration
of Independence were foreign born. A large
proportion OF the Continental army were Irish
men. Let the veterans of '6l-to whom be
everlasting praise-who fought the fight and
awon the victory, the fruits of which are theirs
and ours, tell how many men went down
in battle whose friends were in distant lands
of those who sit in curule chairs to-day none
are less faithful to their trust because they first
saw the Light IN foreign climes. May it be
ever thus. The responsibility rests upon us if
it be otherwise. To what purpose was truth
declared in sacrifice and equal rights sustained
in blood, if we unto whom has been committed
the knowledge of this truth and the duty Of
preserving these rights, are false to our trust
and neglect by precept and example to teach
their virtues. Our fathers built a magnificent
capitol whose corner stone was justice and
whose top stone was liberty, within the sacred
precinct of whose halls they invited all
nations OF the earth to come and worship ac-
cording to the dictates of conscience. The her
itage is ours. The nations are coming. The
capitol will be preserved only as those who
seek its privileges are made to know its enor-
nous cost and to appreciate its priceless value
Let every man stand guard.
he axoro;cao xyara Iio@oxoa 4. -. 1000
audience. the stage was occupied by mem
bers of the City Government and many
prominent citizens, the stage eand surround
ings were prettily draped with bunting, and,
take it all in all, the City Hall exercises were
one Of the best features Of the day.
The children's entertainment in the Oaks
was very satisfactory to the little ones. They
crowded the green lawns and the elevated
seats. Chambers Band furnished an excel
songs, and the day fireworks and candy
bombs delighted them extremely
Lincoln Park was crowded from an early
hour by the men, women and children who
wanted to see the balloon Columbus filed
and the ascension. The full particulars Of
his experience, told by the correspondent of
the Boston Globe, who made the ascent, will
be found elsewhere.
At night the slopes of Bramhall Hill were
crowded by people anxious to witness the
fireworks. 1t is enough to say that the exhi-
bition was remarkably cheap one, and was,
besides, marred by the sad accident to
Officer Harmon. Chambers Band concert
was the best part of the show.
NOTES.
There was good celebration at Cumber-
land Mills. -Four bands were in attendance
and there was burlesque procession and
picnic dinner in the grove
Some forty young patriots, fired with the
zeal of their illustrious forefathers, made
Sunday night hideous for the sleeping COM
munity of Woodford's. Nearly every house
at the Corner was cannonaded, signs and
gates were changed, bells were rung, and
every citizen was made to feel that at last
the glorious Fourth" had come.